CIRIA to update waterfront walls publication

Masonry walls typify the UK’s waterfront, being used as quays, coastal defences, promenades and bridge piers. ‘Old Waterfront Walls – management, maintenance and rehabilitation’ (1992), has long been used as the prime guidance for cost effective and secure management of masonry walls.

However, since 1992 many factors affecting management and maintenance have changed. These include the introduction of risk based assessment and management of structures; design methods, particularly with respect to computer simulation; techniques for invasive and non-invasive survey, monitoring and analysis techniques, with increased use of remote sensing and advances in IT. Design standards have been amended, as other factors have become more significant or severe, such as vehicle loadings, climate change, wave patterns, weather extremes and other processes affecting performance. Techniques and materials for localised, small to medium scale and large scale repair and refurbishment have advanced.

The legislative and regulatory framework has also changed, particularly resulting from the implementation of various European directives, and the economics and funding landscape is substantially different. There is now a much greater need to consider all the different functions that the wall provides (recreational, highway, coastal protection) and the associated funding sources that may be available rather than simply being able to rely on the availability of central government grant.

CIRIA says that while elements of the 1992 manual are still of great value, there is now an urgent need to produce a significantly updated manual that will take full account of the above changes and in the process build on and supersede the 1992 CIRIA manual. An update of the existing manual is intended for all those involved in masonry waterfront structures ownership and management, such as ports, developers and coastal protection authorities. It will be central to the cost effective management of assets worth several billion pounds around the UK.

CIRIA is currently seeking support and involvement from industry. For further information, and to get involved in the project, email owen.jenkins@ciria.org.